Thursday, May 18, 2006

Green Party to Jump In 2nd Dist. Congressional Race?

We are going to give this to you as we got it:"Longtime Little Rock based political activist Glen Schwarz will formally announce as a Green Party candidate for the Arkansas District 2 U.S. Congressional seat currently held by Congressman Vic Snyder, at the Green Party State Meeting, being held at the Clinton Community Center, Saturday May 20, at 12noon.

"This is the northernmost frontier of my district," Schwarz commented. "Truly an appropriate locale and time. With me in the race there is an outside chance that Congressman Vic Snyder will be brought home for a term. Then either I or the Republican will be sent to Washington, whichever of us wins a plurality of the votes. So it is important that a decent Republican wins the primary vote next Tuesday. For this reason I'm voting in the Republican primary and endorsing Tom Formicola for the nomination. I also like Chuck Banks for Lt. Governor."

Is this tip true? If it is, it could have several titanic consequences up and down the ticket.

(continued: click "thursday" below and scroll down for rest of story, or if sent straight here, just scroll down)

5 Comments:

#1. If the Greens get on the ballot, they can tip close races over to the Republicans.

That is a big if. They will likely have to go to court due to the failure of the legislature to pass a bill that would have equalized ballot access in Arkansas and conformed state law to comply with the United States Constitution. Current law has a double standard which makes it practically impossible for a new party to get on the ballot.

Efforts by Sen. Jim Holt to change the law to comply with court rulings were rebuffed. This could cost the GOP heavily if the Greens fail to make it to the ballot. For example former state Representative Jim Lendall will be the Green Party nominee for Governor. He has the potential to take 2-3% of the vote that would otherwise go to Mike Bebee. Bebee has a rather poor record on the environment.

#2 The Greens are willing to run candidates even where liberal Democrats who agree with them most of the time can be unseated. The winner of the Formicola-Mayberry race still has a tough row to hoe, but it may be about to get somewhat easier. Congressman Synder has to watch his left flank now.

#3 The Greens like Chuck Banks for Lt. Governor. How conservative can he be?

They are talking like they plan to run a candidate for Lt. Governor as well. The practical effect of them running a Lt. Governor candidate, especially if Wooldridge (poor record on the environment) is the Democratic nominee, is to make it easier for the GOP candidate to win- whoever it is.